C 2/5 Cav June 1969

Summary June 1969

LZ Ike had been built in April by C 2/5 Cav, and had proven itself to be a major threat to Communist efforts to move men and material into the Saigon area. The company worked out of Ike during the entire month. Because it was adjacent to a series of trails known as the Mustang Trail, Comanche saw frequent combat as we intercepted NVA porters of the 82^nd Rear Service Group carrying supplies, or NVA regulars moving towards Tay Ninh City and Saigon.

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This photo was taken by Jerry "Doc" Watson with an Instamatic camera as his slick flew over Ike.

June 9

While working in Tay Ninh Province in the vicinity of the Mustang Trail, Tall Comanche began a routine combat assault. However, after the first lift (of three) had been safely inserted in the new LZ, and the helicopters had returned for the second lift, the PZ came under attack just as the birds began to lift off.

3^rd Platoon was on board those helicopters. Mike Hayes remembers the door gunner on his bird getting hit in the arm. Doug Young remembers seeing little holes appear in the skin of the helicopter. Mortar rounds were impacting among the platoon left on the ground, wounding two.

Even though the remaining platoon was under fire, the lift helicopters returned to the PZ to reinsert the 3^rd Platoon. PFC Thomas Strathman was on board one of those ships when he was hit in the chest. His helicopter left the formation to take him to medical help, but he died enroute.

Comanche had been resupplied earlier in the day, which meant everyone had a full three-four days of food, water, and ammunition, yet everyone had to get off the birds as soon as possible. That meant jumping out with 100-125 pound packs from a height of 12 feet or so. Eventually, the lead platoon was picked up and and returned to the PZ.   Air strikes were called in, using napalm. Comanche spent the night in an NDP in the middle of the PZ. (Sources: Mike Hayes)

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June 19, 20, and 21

Comanche was again working out of LZ Ike in the vicinity of the Mustang trail. Late in the day of June 19^th, we learned that Company B, 2/5^th Cav - Ridge Runner - had been in heavy contact and had many casualties. The next morning, and throughout the day of June 20^th, Ridge Runner stayed in contact, and Comanche moved overland to assist them. During the afternoon of the 20th, Comanche took a two-bird log of weapons and ammunition to turn over to Ridge Runner. Later, C Company joined B Company by moving into their position while providing cover fire into the nearby wood line and reduce the amount of incoming NVA rifle fire. Incoming small arms required C 2/5 Cav move back a bit, call in an air strike with napalm, then recon the area again. NVA troops were still in position, and engaged us with small arms, and we fell back to our original positions. By the time nightfall came, the two companies had established a combined perimeter. The area was densely wooded.

After dark, the NVA probed the perimeter in several spots in an attempt to mark it for the forthcoming mortar attack. Several small firefights broke out on different sides of the perimeter. During some of these, 1SG "Red" Allen would taunt the NVA and shoot back at the them with his AK-47 - this despite the fact that Top preached the gospel of throwing hand grenades at night so as to not give away one's position.

When the mortar attack came, it was very heavy. 3/6 caught the brunt of the attack, and one mortar round landed in the CP foxhole. During the attack, many of the rounds burst in the tree branches overhead, showering us with shrapnel. Even if you were down in your hole, you could get hit. The NVA also fired B-40 rocket-propelled grenades into the perimeter. After the mortars and B-40 firing ceased, the NVA engaged in small fights around the perimeter, but there was no ground assault.

Three fine men lost their lives in that attack. SGT Dennis Resinger was a Squad Leader with 3^rd Platoon. 1LT Kenneth Susmarski was not technically a member of Comanche - he was undergoing "on-the-job- training" before being given his permanent assignment when he died. He had been in Vietnam only 15 days. PVT Allyn Stevens wasn't a member of Comanche either. He was normally a medic with Ridge Runner, but was sent out to C Company from LZ Ike when one of our regular medics went to Tay Ninh to get new eye glasses. When our medic came back, he went out to B Company. As fate would have it, with both C and B companies in the same perimeter, the two decided to move back to their respective units the next morning. The decision cost Allyn his life.

Both the Platoon Leader, LT Paul, and the Platoon Sergeant, SSG Richard Fujiwara, were severely wounded. The "L-T" was taken over to the company CP with a sucking chest wound. The only way he could breath was to prop him up. He even wanted a cigarette, but some strong words from the company commander and Senior Medic, Jerry "Doc" Watson, helped change his mind. LT Paul would have died that night if not for the bravery of a Medevac crew. Though there was no place to set down a helicopter, a small LZ was blown with C4 wrapped around the right trees. Even with some sniper fire coming in, and the tips of the blade slapping the trees, the bird came in and got him.

During the night, we had Spooky on station. At our direction, he would hose down an area with mini-guns.

The following day, Comanche moved out of the area, but in order to do so, had to blow a bigger LZ with more C4. (Source: Mike Hayes, Jerry "Doc" Watson, and Doug Young)

Jerry "Doc" Watson wrote his own recollection of this action. Click here to read it.

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June - Exact Date Unknown

Sometime in June, Comanche enjoyed a rare luxury - we were brought in to Tay Ninh Base Camp for a three day stand down. This was a chance to have weapons repaired by the Ordnance detachment, get clean uniforms - even go through a shower and get de-loused. The best part - we got to sleep in real bunks. Contrary to most divisions in Vietnam, the 1^st Cav operated almost exclusively "in the weeds."

Staff Sergeant Russ Griffith was a "Shake 'n Bake." While the name referred to a food product, it was also a derisive term for those who went through a special school and were promoted to Sergeant E5 upon graduation. Contrary to the image, most "Shake 'n Bakes" were damned good NCOs who led their troops well. This picture was taken of Russ at the Stand Down center in Tay Ninh.

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Courtesy James Machin

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June - Exact Date Unknown

Jerry "Doc" Watson was the medic assigned to 1/6 (1^st Platoon.) Here he's shown showing off his palatial digs on LZ Ike.

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Courtesy Jerry Watson

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June - Exact Date Unknown

C 2/5 moved into LZ “Ike” after 3-4 weeks in the field with each platoon setting up in their assigned sections of the perimeter. Late one afternoon, about 6 guys from the 3^rd Platoon were playing poker in one of the bunkers. The remaining guys in the platoon decided to play a very “sick” joke on them. It involved a deactivated hand grenade and one the new FNG’s, Mike Morningstar. We unscrewed the grenade, pulled the pin and set off the blasting cap. We then put the grenade back together and gave it to Mike. He then went into the bunker to watch the poker game. We told him to act very nervous and weird and say how he just couldn’t adapt to the field. He then said “I can’t take this anymore”, pulled the pin on the grenade and put in on the poker table. By this time, there were about 25-30 guys waiting outside of the bunker for the mass exodus from the small exit hole. Needless to say that when the guys came out of the bunker they were greeted by shouts and cheers which they did not appreciate. “You had to be there!” (Contributed by Mike Hayes)

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Updated February 15, 2007